Nut and like machine element and method of making



March 21, 1939. 1.. A. YOUNG 2,151,258

NUT AND LIKE MACHINE ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MAKING Filed Oct. 27, 1937 INVENTOR. Leo/70rd /7 Yaw/7g I I J ATTORNEYS l'il Patented Mar. 21, 1939 PATENT OFFICE NUT AND LIKE MACHINE ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MAKING Leonard A. Young, Detroit, Mich. Application October 27, 1937, Serial No. 171,353.

28 Claims. (01.1048) This invention relates to improvements in nuts and like machine elements and method ofmaking.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved article of manufacture in the form of a nut or other annular element of minimum weight for a given size and characterized by maximum economy of material.

Second, to provide a nut of the type described which is formed by upsetting or swaging operations to proper shape and size and thereafter provided with threads by appropriate tapping operation, the forming steps serving to work-harden the metal of the nut adjacent the threads.

Third, to provide a nut which is formed of elongated rod stock and coined or swaged to proper size and shape, the same being characterized by tongue-and-groove provision uniting the ends of the rod .stock.

Fourth, to provide a novel and improved method for forming nuts of rod stock whereby to minimize the weight thereof and eliminate wastage. a

Fifth, to .providei'a method of forming nuts by coining or swaging operations to shape the same and'work-harden the metal thereof.

Sixth, to provide .a method as described for forming nuts of rod stock characterized by an initial forming operation to bring the rod stock into annular form and subsequent operations of upsetting and swaging to intimately unite the ends of the stock and work-harden the metal thereof.

Further objects relating to details and economies of the invention-will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims. v

' A structure embodying the features of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view conventionally illustrating the mechanism for performing the preliminary step in the. formation of nuts according to the invention.

Fig. 2 .is' an enlarged perspective view of a formed blank to be used in the manufacture of nuts according to the invention, indicating the manner of joining the ends of therod stock from which the blank is forme f Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in ver- 'tical section illustrating one of the steps. I

- 1 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section on line 4+4 of Fig. 3 illustrating the shape of the preliminarily forme'cl blank and the forming partsoperatively associated therewith. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical'sectlon through the finish punches and dies, illustrating the same in operative relation to the nut after the final forming or swaging operation.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in section on line 66 of Fig. 7, illustrating the manner in which the tongue-and-groove joint connecting the ends of the rod stock is swaged during the finish operation.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in section on line 'l-! of Fig. 6, further illustrating the swaged joint.

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating the finished article subsequent to the forming or swaging operation and a tapping operation (not shown) for forming threads thereon.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section illustrating a modified manner of performing the swaging operation.

The present invention relates in particular to the formation of machine nuts and a novel and 20 improved method for effecting the same, although it will be understood that the provisions of the invention are equally applicable in the production of Washers, collars, .etc. It is. a pri mary object of the invention to produce nuts 25 which are characterized by their lightness and economy of material, and to attain this object I contemplate coining or swaging annular blanks by means of a die and punch members having projections thereon for simultaneously forming 30 recesses in the stock parallel to the axis thereof and causing the blank to flow radially to fill the space in a cooperating forming die. In the process of attaining the object noted, I have observed thatthe power requirements for the 35 coining or swaging operation are greatly reduced because of the fact that the blank is contacted ,is highly magnified. There being no removal of material required, wastage attending machine operation is eliminated.

Referring to the drawing, wherein the inventive article and method of producing the same '4 are illustrated, the reference number I indicates a length of rod stock of somewhat flattened cross section and having rounded edges. This stock is fed by a pair of rollers 2 over and across the edge of a cutting die 3. The reference numeral 50 4 indicates a cut-off and forming member, cooper-able with die 3 and a mandrel 5 to cut a length of stock from the rod l and bend the same initially about the mandrel. The finish blank forming members'G are mounted to recip- 55 shapes generally indicated by the reference numeral 8. The result of the steps above described is the blank 9 illustrated in Fig. 2, the same conform roughly to the shape of the die.

being of annular form ready for the preliminary upsetting and shaping or swaging operation illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

The blank 9 is inserted in a die N, which is shown as being of hexagonal shape, (see Fig. 4)

but may be of any shape in which it is desired to form the nut. The supporting table or bed II has an opening III for receiving a guide pin 12 on the hammer or swage I2I. When the hammer or swage is actuated, the blank is flattened substantially in the direction of its axis and the material thereof caused to flow radially anctl;

The is to say, the blank is given an initial roughly hexagonal configuration, albeit the corners l3 remain rounded, and the top and bottom l4, l5 are flattened out. It will be appreciated that this operation is a preliminary or preparatory operation since it is not desirable to finally change the article from original blank form to the finished product in a single die due to the excessive power requirements.

After the blank has been preliminarily conformed and shaped as described, the die member is rotated or the die otherwise positioned to transfer the nut blank 9 to operativ'e relation to a finish forming and swaging or upper coining or swaging member I6, and a similarly shaped lower coining or swaging member I8 in the die Ill. The

upper swaging member I6 has a guide pin 20 received in an opening 2| in the lower member l8. The members 5 and I8 each carry a series of projecting punching and swaging elements 22 adapted to indent the top and bottom surfaces I4, l5 as illustrated in Fig. 5, and the members l8, iii are otherwise formed to complete the outline of the nut, i. e., to complete the operation of forcing the metal thereof radially inwardly and outwardly into the corners of the die and to conform to the die and the swaging members whereby the nut takes its finished shape. During this operation, the member l8 may remain stationary and the upper member I6 only be actuated, or both members may be actuated together.

Primarily, the operation of coining and swaging the blank is to reduce the weight of the finished nut for a given size, but it will be appreciated that much less power is required to force the metal to flow radially inwardly and outwardly in the case where the spaced projections 22 are employed than would be the case were the finished product formed without indenting the same as described.

I have likewise found that the cold working of the material between the die members effects a work-hardening of the grain of the metal both on the exterior and interior of the nut whereby the threads, when formed, are of superior strength. The threads may be formed simultaneously with the swaging operation or tapped by a conventional threading die or operation.

After the finishing operation has been performed, the member I6 is withdrawn and the lower member 18 is reciprocated upwardly to strip the shaped nut from the die, or the die member I 0 can be rotated or shifted to an ejector not illustrated. Theformed elements may be the joint thereof is distorted and a keying and welding or fusing action occurs to elfectively interlock the joint or seam as well as a, workhardening of the grain structure adjacent the joint. It follows that the end connection referred to is permanently locked and greatly strengthened, being, as a matter of fact, as strong as any part of the nut.

In Figs. 6 and '7, the original position of the tongue-and-groove connection 8 is indicated by dotted lines and the final position thereof shown approximately in solid lines, being substantially distorted from original position to permanently unite the ends of the original rod stock.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the recesses 23 are indicated asbeing in vertical alinement. However, it will be appreciated that the same may readily be staggered, which construction I illustrate in Fig. 9 and desire to cover as a modification of the preferred embodiment.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which is very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A nut comprising a length of rod stock bent to annular form and having the ends thereof joined by a tongue-and-groove connection, said nut having top and bottom sides provided with annularly spaced series of swaged recesses extending substantially axially of the nut and spaced substantially from the inner edge of the element, the metal of the nut being work-hardened by swaging incident to forming the recesses, certain of said 'swagedrecesses coinciding in position with meeting faces of the tongueand-groove connection whereby to distort and fuse the metal adjacent the faces and firmly unite the ends of the nut. I

2. A nut comprising. an annular element having top and bottom sides provided with annularly spaced series of swaged recesses extending subconnection whereby to distort and fuse the metal adjacent the faces and firmly unite the ends of the nut. I r 1 4. A nut comprising a length of rod stock bent to annular form and having the ends thereofin abutting relation, said nut having top and bottom sides provided with an annular series of axially of the nut, at least one of said swaged recesses coinciding in position with the abutting ends of the stock whereby to distort and fuse the metal adjacent the ends of the nut.

5. An annular machine element having swaged recesses'in the topand bottom surfaces of the same and extending substantially parallel to the axis of the element, the metal of the element being work-hardened by the swaging thereof, said element being axially threaded internally.

6. An annular machine element having swag'ed ,.recesses in the top and bottom surfaces of the same and extending substantially parallel tothe axis of the element, the metal of, the element being work-hardened by the swaging thereof.

, 7. An annular element having recesses swaged therein extending substantially parallel to the axis of the element and being spaced from the inner edge thereoflthe metal of the element being work-hardened by the swaging thereof, said element'being axiallythreaded internally.

8. A nut or similar annular metal machine element comprising a length of rod stock bent to annular form with the ends thereof provided with a tongue-and-groove connection, said element havinga plurality of recesses therein extending substantially parallel with the axis there- I of and spaced from ,the inner edge thereof, at" '30 least one of said recesses intersecting the tongueand-groove connection whereby to fiow the metal of the element adjacent the connection and unite I theends.

(9; A vnut or similar annular threaded metal element comprising a length of rod stock bent to annular form with the ends thereof in abutting relation, said element having a plurality of recesses therein extending substantially parallel with the axis thereof and spaced from the inner edge thereof, at least one of said recesses intersecting the meeting point of said rod and groove connection whereby to unite the ends.

10. An annular machine element comprising a length of stock bent to annular form and having a mortise andtenon joint atthe ends thereof, said element having the end faces thereof provided with spaced recesses swaged therein and extending substantially axially of the element, at least one of said swaged recesses coinciding in position with the meeting ends of the mortise and tenon joint, the mortise and tenon parts being distorted and keyed together.

11. An annular machine element comprising a length of stock bent to annular form and having a mortise and tenon joint at the ends thereof, said element having an end face thereof provided with spaced recesses swaged therein and extending substantially axially of the element,

said recesses being spaced radially from the in-- ner edge of the element, at least one of the swagings coinciding in position with the meeting ends of the mortise and tenon joint, the mortise and tenon parts being distorted and keyed together..

recess swaged therein and extending axially of the element, said recess being spaced radially from the inner edge of the element, the swaging coinciding in part at least with; the joint parts, the metal of which is distorted and swaged togethen 14. The method of forming nuts or similar annular elements, comprising the steps of forming rod stock into an annular blank with the ends of the stockprovided with a tongue-andgroove connection, hammering the blank axially of the same while cold to cause the metal thereof to flow radially while confining the blank in a shaped preliminary die, and subsequently swaging the blank axially thereof while confined in a finish die to provide axially extending recesses in the top and bottom faces of the element.

15. The method of forming nuts or similar annular elements, comprising the steps of formingrod stock into an annular blank with the ends of the stock provided with a tongue-andgroove connection, and subsequently swaging the blank axially, thereof at both ends while, confined in a finish die to provide axially extending recesses in the top and bottom faces of the element.

16; The method of forming nuts or similar annular elements, comprising the steps of forming an annular blank, and subsequently swaging the blank axially thereof while cold and confined in a finish die to provide axially extending recesses in the element;

l7. The method of forming nuts comprising the steps of forming rod stock into an annular blank with the ends of the stock provided with an interlapping connection, hammering the blank ing the blank axially thereof in the localized areas at both ends while confined in a finish die to provide axially extending recesses, and internally threading the element.

19. The method of forming nuts comprising the steps of forming an annular blank, subsequently swaging the blank axially thereof in the localized areas at both ends while confined in a finish die to provide axially extending recesses, and internally threading the element.

20. The method of forming nuts comprising the steps of forming an annular blank of rod stock having the ends thereof joined by a tongueand-groove connection, preliminarily hammering the blank axially while confining the same in a die to initially shape the blank in the outline, and subsequently swaging said partially formed blank in a die to provide axially extending recesses therein one of which coincides at least in part with, the tongue-and-groove connection, whereby the metal adjacent the same is distorted and work-hardened and the nut united in integral form.

21. The method of forming nuts comprising the steps of forming an annular blank of rod stock having the ends thereof joined by a tongueand-groove connection, and subsequently swaging said blank in a die at the points spaced radiallyfrom the inner edge of the blank to provide axially extending recesses therein oneof which coincides at least in part with the tongue-andgroove connection, whereby the metal adjacent the same is distorted and work-hardened and the nut united in integral form.-

22. The method of forming annular machine elements comprising the steps of forming an annular blank of-rod stock having the ends thereof in abutting relation, preliminarily hammering the blank axially while confining the same in a die to-initially shape the blank, and

* subsequently swaging said partially formed blank a die to provide an axially extending recess therein which is spaced radially from the inner edge of the blank and coincides at least in part with the meeting point ofthe abutting ends,

whereby the. metal adjacent the same is distorted 20 and the element united in integral form,

- 23. The method of forming an annular machine element-comprising the steps of bending "a length of rod stock to annular form, initially the connection whereby to key and permanently elements comprising the steps of forming metal hammering the blank thus formed axially there-, of to compress the same and cause the metal thereof to flow radially while confining the blank in-a shaped die, and subsequently swaging the partially formed blank in a die at the points spaced radially from the inner edge of the blank to shape the blank and form recesses therein extending substantially parallel with the axis thereof.

24. The method of forming annular machine elements comprising the steps of bending a length 1 of rod stock to annular form with the ends thereof united'by an interlocking connection, 'and subsequently swaging'the blank thus formed at spaced points annularly of the same, substantially'parallel to the axis thereof and spaced radially from the inner edge thereof, whereby to form similarly extending recesses therein, one of said recesses coinciding at least in part with connect said ends. v

25: The method of forming annular machine stockinto an annular blank with interlapping joint parts, upsetting the blank axially to cause the metal to flow radially whileconfining the blank 'in'a shaping die, and during the upsetting and shaping swaging recesses in an end face'of the elementspaced from thelnner edge thereof andthereby further causing the metal 7 to flow radially and conform to the die, at least one of the recess forming swagings being positioned relative to the joint so as to interlock the joint parts by displacement and/or reforming of the metal thereof.

' 26. The method of forming annular machine elements comprising the steps of forming metal stock into an annular blank with interlapping joint parts, upsetting the blank axially to cause 'the metal to how radially while confining the blank in a shaping die, and during the upsetting and shaping swaging a recess inan end face of the element spaced from the inner edge thereof and thereby further causingv the metal to flow radially'and conform to the die, therecess forming swaging being positionedrelative to the joint so as to interlock the joint parts by displacement and/or reforming of the metal thereof;

27. The method of forming annular machine elements comprising the steps of forming metal stockinto' an annular blank, upsetting the blank axially to cause the metal to flow radially while confining the blank inja shaping die, and during the final upsetting and'shaping swaging recesses in the end faces of the-element and thereby fur- I ther causingthe metal to 110W radially and con- 7 form to the shaping die. 

